Why does this keep happening to Dallas? Last year it was Devin Harris, who agreed to a deal with the Mavericks but never got to sign it because a physical showed he needed foot surgery. (That deal was re-worked and he signed with the team, then re-signed this summer).

This year it was 35-year-old Rashard Lewis, who signed his deal with the Mavericks then it was discovered he needs knee surgery.

The standard NBA contract allows a team to void a contract if said player fails a physical within three days of signing and the team gets back to the player within another three days. Dallas met those guidelines.

The Mavericks were hoping that the additions of Lewis and Richard Jefferson would give a nice starting five (or nice starting four and Raymond Felton, if you ask Knicks fans) some veteran help off the bench. Now Dallas will be looking to replace that help in a depleted market.

Not to mention that this is the second summer in a row that Dallas apparently didn’t do their due diligence on a player. Last year it was Devin Harris, who had a bad toe and had his four year contract scuttled, and replaced with a one year deal.